"I'll always be waiting for you"

Listened to a Coldplay album this morning. One of my good friends has been tellin' me how he can't really listen to Coldplay because he just ends up depressed. I'm a big fan of coldplay so I did my best to listen to the lyrics today and see what was goin on w/ these guys.

and I think I was a little blown away...

Some of their songs are very sad, but honestly I'm still a fan. I can't really think of a time when I've been torn down by them. This morning, I was strangely built up by a couple lines (taken completely out of context) from one of my favorite songs--"Shiver"

"Yeah I'll always be waiting for you

And it's you I see
But you don't see me
And it's you I hear
So loud and clear"

I felt like God was just shouting those lines at me.

My Father sits right next to me and hears me when I call. He waits for me--He is always available. But what does "waiting" mean? When I thought of waiting, at first, I thought of sitting around...

I do not believe that He sits around, complacent, as if He were in a waiting room of a hospital, playing checkers or reading newsweek. He works. He pursues us violently. And He waits for me to realize the intense love that He has for me. He waits for me to accept His loving tug. And He is patient. Always loving me. Always gracious. Waiting for me to stop resisting the push that He provides. There is nothing that I can do but stop resisting. The rest is from Him. And true rest will only come from Him as a result of my letting go of doing anything--letting go of my precious control.

"but you don't see me"
I fix my eyes on everything but Him. I think my life will always be a constant struggle to turn my focus toward Him. To fix my eyes on Him.


He hears me "loud and clear." I call to Him and He hears. He hears my prayers, loud and clear. And He answers. It seems that the answers are always where I don't expect them to be and in a way that I dont' recognize. It also seems like I really have no idea what I really need from Him many times. Furthermore, quite honestly, from what I've seen so far (or haven't seen...) I'm not sure I will ever be able to recognize many of the times that He answers my prayer. I become so focused on what I think the answer should be, that I completely miss Him blasting away at my life in a completely different area and manner.

Thanks for these, Matt

Isaiah 30:19 - O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will respond instantly to the sound of your cries.

Isaiah 65:24 - I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking to me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!

Psalm 50:15 - Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.

God answers prayer. God listens to us. God loves us. God tugs at us. God wants us to lose control and gain everything.
They're all such "simple" lessons. And I'll probably forget them again soon. Most likely later today or tomorrow...

And He'll always be there, making sure to remind me of the same lessons again and again and again. Listening to me cry out to Him when I forget about them. Taking my hand, like a father would a child, and reminding me of who He is. Loving me, and showing me His grace. I can't even begin to understand that sort of faithfulness. He'll sit right next to me as I run around in circles.

And it will go on like this for the rest of my life. Until I finally get to go Home. One thing I know for sure: I'm certainly not at home here...



Have a great day guys
-Dave